get there early

Bun B's next trill food favorite pops up at Sunday's Texans tailgate

Trill Tenders took the top prize at TenderFest.

Photo by Victor Arriola

Too often in recent years, tailgating would be the best part of attending a Texans game. While that’s not true this season — AFC Rookie of the Month and Offensive Player of the Month CJ Stroud has the team in contention for a Wild Card spot — those attending the game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, December 3 may want to get to the stadium a little earlier than usual.

Houston hip hop legend Bun B will use the occuasion to hold a special pop-up for Trill Tenders in the parking lot of NRG Stadium. Texans fans will find Bun B and the Trill Tenders team at the Modelo Golden Lion Tailgate, which is located near the Amegy Bank gate outside the southeast corner of NRG Stadium. Tenders will be served from 9:30 am until kickoff at noon (or sold out). Given Houstonians' enthusiasm for all things Trill, we suggest getting there early.

The first 100 adults (21-plus) will receive free tenders. Minors will be able to purchase tenders at a nearby location outside the tailgate.

A sister concept to his smash hit smash burger concept Trill Burgers, Trill Tenders serves, as it names implies, chicken tenders. The award-winning concept made its Houston debut at the recent Taste of the Texans fundraiser.

Trill Burgers chefs Mike Pham and Fernando Valladares teamed up on the Trill Tenders recipe. Drawing on their French training and experience operating Nashville-style hot chicken concepts in Orange County, Trill Tenders are brined to ensure they stay juicy when fried. It's served with two dipping sauces, dubbed "Soy OG" and "Pink OG," which looks like the chefs' take on the creamy and tangy dipping sauce served at national chicken tender chains.

Trill Tenders chicken tender and fries That's a tasty-looking tendie.Photo by Golda Valladares

Back in October, the tenders won the ConTender Contest at the 2023 Tenderfest in Los Angeles where they beat out a host of top California chefs such as Burt Bakman of Slab Barbecue, Joan McNamara of Joan’s on Third, and chef Maynard Llera of Kuya Lord Filipino restaurant.

Sunday’s pop-up deepens Trill Burgers’ relationship with the Texans. Prior to the season, the team announced that Trill Burgers would be available at four stands within NRG Stadium. Of course, the burgers are also available for lunch and dinner daily at its brick and mortar location at 3607 S Shepherd Dr.

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a laugh riot

Houston comedy club perks up Washington with new coffee shop and cafe

Courtesy of The Riot Comedy Club

The Riot Cafe seats 50 people inside.

A recently-relocated Houston comedy club is adding a daytime component to its offerings. Beginning this Saturday, October 17, The Riot Comedy club’s cafe will be open daily for coffee, meals, and more.

Beginning at 7 am Monday-Saturday and 8 am on Sunday, the Riot Café will serve coffee made with beans supplied by Houston-based roasted Katz Coffee alongside a menu of pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and similar fare. At lunch, dinner, and late night, the menu will include items such as pizza, panini, and shareable dishes.

General manager Seth Fair also created The Riot’s beverage program, which includes coffee, beer, wine, and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails. The Roast, the venue’s signature cocktail, is made with mezcal, tequila, cold-pressed pineapple juice, lime juice, agave, and fire tincture. Zero-proof options include the Open Mic, made with Fever-Tree ginger beer, Southern Style Lemon Up, lime juice, and pineapple juice. Specialty juice shop MEP Cold-Pressed Juice supplies all of The Riot’s juices.

On a recent episode of CultureMap’s “What’s Eric Eating” podcast, The Riot owner Brian Grendon explains how the cafe sets itself apart from the other coffee shops on Washington Ave.

“We have wi-fi. We encourage you to stick around,” he said. “It’s really set up for comedians to come and write and congregate. Use our podcast studio. We are incentivizing people to come and hang out with us.”

Not only does the cafe offer 50 seats inside, it has a 20-seat covered patio that’s lit at night. In addition, online ordering and dedicated parking spots expedite picking up to-go orders.

“We wanted the café to have its own personality while still feeling like a natural part of The Riot,” Fair said in a statement. “The menu brings together a mix of familiar favorites and nostalgic items, along with comedy-inspired drinks, and partnering with Katz Coffee and MEP Cold-Pressed Juice was a great way to bring Houston local businesses into the mix.”

On Saturday, The Riot will celebrate the cafe's opening withcomplimentary light bites, coffee tastings and cocktail samples, a DJ, photo opportunities, and free refillable Riot coffee tumblers — good for $1 off coffee on future visits — for the first 50 people.

Courtesy of The Riot Comedy Club

The Riot Cafe seats 50 people inside.

The Riot occupied the upstairs room at Rudyard’s from 2022 until this summer, when it moved to a new home at 1925 Washington Ave. (next to Julep). The 2,200-square-foot room seats 170 people and hosts a mix of local, regional, and national acts.

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